Schoolchildren have been protesting against the use of the Playboy bunny - the symbol of the pornography empire - on stationery sold to youngsters.

Pupils from Coloma Convent in Croydon, south-west London, asked passers-by in the town centre to sign a petition calling for the items to be banned.

The stationery, which they think is inappropriate, is currently on sale at WH Smith, and a variety of UK stores.

In a statement WH Smith said it was responding to customer demand.

It said the bunny had become a popular teenage icon.

Eleanor Kirwan, a teacher at the school, said : "We've decided not to ban the stationery (at school) because I don't think prohibition is an effective device and it could just glamorise it for the girls.

"What I am really anxious about is that Playboy might come to be seen as glamorous for them."